"Why, Mr. Vane runs the 'Banner.' Mr. Ford owns the 'Press.' The
'Telegram'--let me see--"

"No; no; no," cried Ellis, waving his hands in front of his face. "I
don't mean the different papers. I mean all of 'em. The 'Clarion,' with
the others."

"Nobody runs them all, surely."

"Three men run them all; Pierce, Gibbs, and Hollenbeck."

"E.M. Pierce?"

"Elias Middleton Pierce."

"I had luncheon with him yesterday, and with Mr. Gibbs--"

"Ah! That's where you got your notions about the strike."

"--and neither of them spoke of any newspaper interests."

"Catch them at it! They're the Publication Committee of the Retail Dry
Goods Union."

"What is that?"

"The combination of local department stores. And, as such, they can
dictate to every Worthington newspaper what it shall or shall not
print."

"Nonsense!"

"Including the 'Clarion.'"

"There you're wrong, anyway."

"The department stores are the biggest users of advertising space in the
city. No paper in town could get along without them. If they want a
piece of news kept out of print, they tell the editor so, and you bet
it's kept out. Otherwise that paper loses the advertising."

"Has it ever been done here?"

"Has it? Get Veltman down to tell you about the Store Employees'
Federation."

"Veltman? What does he know of it? He's in the printing-department,
isn't he?"

"Composing-room; yes. Outside he's a labor agitator and organizer. A bit
of a fanatic, too. But an A1 man all right. Get the composing-room," he
directed through the telephone, "and ask Mr. Veltman to come to Mr.
Surtaine's office."

As the printer entered, Hal was struck again with his physical beauty.

"Did you want to see me?" he asked, looking at the "new boss" with
somber eyes.

"Tell Mr. Surtaine about the newspapers and the Store Federation, Max,"
said Ellis.

The German shook his head. "Nothing new in that," he said, with the very
slightest of accents. "We can't organize them unless the newspapers give
us a little publicity."

"Explain it to me, please. I know nothing about it," said Hal.

"For years we've been trying to organize a union of department store
employees."

"Aren't they well treated?"

"Not quite as well as hogs," returned the other in an impassive voice.
"The girls wanted shorter hours and extra pay for overtime at holiday
time and Old Home Week. Every time we've tried it the stores fire the
organizers among their employees."

"Hardly fair, t